A Colorado canine is about to enjoy a well-deserved nap.
After five years of nosing around charred homes and catching crooks, K9 ROTC is leaving the state division of fire prevention and control as its “accelerant detection canine” – like a narcotics dog for arson.
“ROTC has been an invaluable asset, not only to the division but also to every agency he has collaborated with,” said Chris Brunette, chief of the Colorado fire and life safety section, in a statement released today. “His contributions have led to the successful apprehension of criminals and the recovery of vital evidence, highlighting the exceptional skills that make K9 units so essential to the state.”
ROTC, a yellow Labrador Retriever, responded to more than 180 fires in his tenure, helping investigators pin down the source of a fire and what caused it. And he was good at his job – he correctly pointed to fuels like gasoline and paint thinner in nearly 95% of his cases.
“The state of Colorado thanks ROTC for his service to the state and wishes him a restful retirement full of treats, walks in Colorado’s iconic outdoors, long naps in the sun, and countless tummy rubs,” Gov. Jared Polis said when declaring Oct. 8 ROTC Retirement Day.
But that is only half the story. Now joining the state fire department is another fire-sniffing pup, K9 Waffle.
Waffle, a black lab, joins 50 dogs working fires nationwide. They are trained by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms to “detect a variety of ignitable liquids that may be used to start fires,” writes the fire division, and commit to at least five years on the job.
“We are deeply grateful for ROTC’s years of service and excited to welcome Waffle into the DFPC family,” fire division director Mike Morgan said. “Our K9 program not only strengthens fire investigations but also demonstrates the commitment we share with our partners to keep Colorado safe.”